Rail-joint lock.



, PAIENTED oGT. 18, 1904l N. G.' VDSLER. RAIL JOINTLOGK.- APPLICATIONFILED Imc. su. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7N() MODEL.

. Inventor jaw/zeges.' i

.A ./S/vnl/oS/e/ No. 772,543. PATENTED 00T. 1s, 1904.'

N. G. VosLER.

RAIL JOINT LOCK.

APPLIoATIoN FILED DBO, 21.1903.

' No MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented October 18, 1904. i

PATENT OFFICE.;

NEWTON e. vOsLEE, or FORT oOLLiNs, COLORADO.

" RAIL-JOINT LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,543, dated October18, 1904.

Application led December 21, 1903. Serial No. 185,998. (No models) Toall whom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON G. VosLER, a

` citizen of the United States, residing at Fort securely fastened tothe ties will prevent Collins, in the county of Larimer and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Joint Locks, of which the following is a specification.`

My invention relates to improvements in devices for locking together theadjacent ends of railway-rails, and more especially to the class oflocks illustrated and described in United States Patent N o. 665,984,granted to me January 15, 1901. The locks described in thisspecification, al-

though operating onthesame principle as the lock described in theabove-mentioned patent, differmaterially in form and application and aremore especially adapted for use on street, electric, and elevatedrailroads, sur-V face tramways for mines, &c.

' The Objects of my invention are, first, to provide a device of theclass named which being simplel and durable in construction may bemanufactured at low cost and readily applied to the rails without theuse of bolts or other fastening devices, which generally are diiiicultto apply and which weaken the rails; second, to provide means foreffectually locking the meeting ends of rails together, which,holding'the rails in perfect top and side alinement, will avoid lateraldeiiection and socalled low joints, which are known to be the mostfruitful source of` breakage and damage to rails and consequent dangerto passing trains; third, to provide a rail -joint lock which by theabsence ofbolts will allow the rails to expand or contract andwhich-being spreading ofthe rails; fourth, to provide a device of theclass named which may be quickly applied at any time to any part of therail or rails and in which, owing to its peculiar construction, theweight of the trains on the rails will aid in more securely locking therail ends together, which, it may be observed, is a decided `advantageover the old method of fastening .the rails by straps and bolts, whichoftentimes break or loosen by the pressure ofthe train on the rails.

Myl device may, furthermore, .be used to great advantage in mendin'gcracked or kbroken yties being omitted; Fig. 2, a perspective view ofthe combined bed-plate and angle-bar employed in my lock;l Fig.'3, aperspective view of the removable angl`ebar; Fig. 4,.a crosssectiontaken througha rail with the device in locked position and secured to arailway tie; Fig. 5, a top view of the part of my lock illustrated inFig. 2, the adjoining ends of lthevrail being shown in place in section;Fig. 6, a perspective view of a modified form of my device; Fig. 7, anenlarged cross-section through two rails with my device shown in placein the locked position; Figs. 8, 9, and

10, perspective views of the various parts comprising the lock asillustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 11, a sectional view of anothermodified form of my lock; Fig.-12, a perspective View of the connectedbed-plates used in the form illustrated in Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a

.cross-section through the device as illustrated in Fig. 1, showingapplication of bolts; and

Fig. 14, a section taken'falong the line 14 14,

Fig. 5. f

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thevarious views.

My device, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, and 14, comprisestwo members A and B,

lone of which, A, is composed of abcd-plate 5, hprovided along one ofits sides with anupa plane with the upper surface of plate 5. Plate .5is, furthermore, provided with one or more slots 5d, which extend alongits' lianged edge and through the vertical portion 5, which connects theflange 5c to the plate. Two or more feet 5f, by which the plate may besecured to i the cross-ties, extend laterally. from the angle- IOO barside of the bed-plate and are provided along their outer edges withdownwardly-extending teeth 5g, which are made to enter the tie when thefeet are secured thereto by spikes 9, driven through suitably-locatedapertures 5 in feet 5f. The entire structure is reinforced by ribs 5,two of which extend vertically from the feet alongside the outsidesurface of the anglebar, being integral with both, while the third ormiddle one extends diagonally from the lower to the upper edge of theangle-bar. The second member, B, which is shown in detail in Fig. 3, iscomposed of an angle-bar 7, similar in size and shape to the angle-bar 6and provided with one or more laterally-extending angle projections orknees 7, which depend from the lower edge of the angle-bar. Theycorrespond in length and location to the slots 5, the vertical portion7c being adapted to occupy said slots when the membersA and B areassembled. Both the integral as well as the detachable angle-bars areshaped so as to conform to the contour of the under side of the head,the web 8, and the upper side and edge of base 8 of the rail, so thatwhen the rails are placed on the bed-plate and the detachable angle-baris in place the two bars, in conjunction with the bed-plate, willembrace or clasp said rails. The bed-plate to this end has been made ofa width sufficient to admit the base of the rail as well as'thedrooping' edge 7 d of angle-bar 7, which forms a shoulder along theentire length of the plate between the edge 8 of the rail and the offset5 of the bed-plate. The upper edges of both angle-bars rest in practiceagainst the lower surface of the head 8e of the rail, thus furnishingadditional support for the rails. The horizontal portions 7 of the angleprojections on the detachable angle-bar being similar in form to thefeet 5f on the bed-plate project outwardly from beneath the elevatedflange 5C when the vertical portions 7c of the knees occupy slots l.They are, like feet 5f, provided with downwardly-extending teeth 7 g andspike-holes 7, by which they may be secured to the cross-ties l0. Theholes 7 in the horizontal portion of knees 7 are so located that whenthe spikes 9 are driven therethrough the lips and sides of the spikeswill engage the outer edge of flange 5c, thus not only securing theangle-bar to the tie, but at the same time rigidly connecting the twomembers. of the device. Located at a point midway between the ends ofthe bed-plate and near its flanged side is an upwardly-exf tendingprojection or stop l1, the oiiice of which is to limit the longitudinalmovement of the rails toward each other. The distance between stop 11and the offset on the bedplate should be equal to or exceed thethickness of the lower edge 7l of the detachable angle-bar, so as toprevent stop 1l from obstructing the path of the edge 7d when theangle-bar is putin place. The adjacent ends of the rails 8 have beenprovided with notches 8X, corresponding in position to the stop 11, sothat the latter will engage said notches when the rails are in theirproper position on the bed-plate.

The operation of the device and mode of applying same to the rails arevery simple. The rails having been placed on the bed-plate in the recessformed by the plate and the integral angle-bar, so that notches 8Xengage stop 11, the knees 7 of the detachabl 1. anglebar 7 are insertedin slots until. the vertical portions 7 c occupy said slots andangle-bar 7 rests against the rail. rlhe entire structure is now securedto the cross-ties by spikes .l, driven through apertures 5" and 7 in thefeet of the bed-plate and the horizontal portions of the knees 7, thelips of the spikes driven through the latter resting against the uppersurface of flange 5c, as heretofore explained, thus affordingsupjilementary means for holding the different parts intact. When thespikes are driven home, the downwardlyextending projections 5r on thefeet of the bedplate and on the horizontal portion 7 of the knees, aswell as portions of the parts themselves, the ends of which to this endhave been made pointing downward, will enter the surface of thecross-ties. This feature of my invention is intended to form an absolutesafeguard against spreading of rails, which is a great source of dangeron raih'ozul-tracks as they are now constructed. Moreover, in my deviceI gain the advantage that the spikes on the inside of the rail have thevsame hohling power against lateral movement as those on the outside,which greatly adds to the strength of the joint. The teeth and ends ofthe lateral projections of the bed-plate and detachable angle-barentering the ties cresswise of the grain, shoulders are formed which notonly will prevent lateral movement, but materially relieve the strain onthe spikes. W hen the detachable angle-bar has been put in place and theentire structure spiked down on the ties, the two parts of the devicewill be rigidly connected, this rigidity being aug mented when theweight of passing trains is brought to bear on the rails, owing to thesuspension of the joint where it is spiked to the tie. The assembledmembers A and B, it will be observed, form together a recess in closeconformity to the shape of the cross-section of the base, web, and undersurface of the head of the rail in which the rail ends will be claspedfirmly, so as to assure perfect alinement of the meeting rails. 1 wishit understood, however, that although lateral movement of the railsclamped in my lock is prevented sa`id rails may still movelongitudinally when expanded or contracted.

Although, as a general rule, it is my intention to secure the lock totwo cross-ties, it may, if necessary, be made longer, so as to engagethree or even more ties, or when used on side tracks or for repairingslightly- TOO y bars, as illustrated in Fig. 13.

rested by stop 11.

Should it be deemed advisable on account of economy in manufacturing orother reasons to omit stop 11, the rails may be secured againstlongitudinal movement by means' ofl bolts 12, projecting throughproperly-placed holes in the web of the rails and the anglederstood,however, that the bolts are in no case required for any other function,as they do not add to the strength or safety of my device. Y n

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and l() is illustrated a form of my device which isespecially adapted for use on railroads of narrow gage and lighttraffic, such as the surface vtramways used in mines. i The constructionand operation of the locking parts of the device are practically thesame as described in my abovementioned patent, there being besides abedplate 5 two detachable angle-bars 7 .f In this case, however, the twoinner angle-bars of the corresponding locks on the two rails coinposingthe track have been connected by a metal strap 13, integral with bothangle-bars and provided with suitable apertures 13a for fasteningpurposes. The shape `of the outside angle-bars is similar to that of thedetachable angle-bar hereinabove described. In the drawings only oneknee has been shown; but it will be understood that as many may beemployed as desired. i The connected inner angle-bars differ from theouter ones in width. Owing to the fact that on vaccount of their beingattached to eachother they have to be inserted `from the under side ofthe bed-plate, their width cannot exceed that of the slots in 'theplate. The connectingplate 13, which takes the place of the horizontalportions of the knees in the other angle-bars, is made of the same widthas the angle-bars to which they are attached. The construction of thebed-plate is practically the same as in' the'two-piece lock, excepting'that as both angle-bars are detachable the integral angle-bar has beenreplaced by a `{iange similar in shape to iiange 5G, while the feet .5fhave been omitted. Slots 5d instead of be- I wish it un?v on the railsthe corresponding locks on the two rails will form one whole. Thisconstruction enables ine to dispense with the cross-ties, especiallywhen the rails are to be placed on a rocky surface, to which theconnecting- `strap 13, as well as the feet of the outside angle-bars,may be spiked.

In Figs. l1 and l2 is illustrated a modified form of the above-describedconnected locks. In this lcase the inner iianges on the bed-plates ofcorresponding locks on the two rails have been replaced by aconnecting-bar 11i, while all the angle-bars are detachable andseparated. The spikes on the inside of the locks are driven through theconnecting-flange 14C, as well as through the horizontal parts of theknees of the inside angle-bars, the holes in both having been made tocorrespond.

Having thus described my invention, what I clairnis i 1. In a rail-jointlock the combination with a bed-plate adapted to be interposed betweenthe rail and the tie, having an integral anglebar extending along one ofits sides and being provided with slots along its opposite side, ofa'detachable angle-bar having knees extending downwardly through saidslots and outwardly from the slotted side-of said plate, said knees andsaid bed-plate being provided with suitably-located spike-openings,substantially as described.

2. A rail-jointiock comprising a base-plate providedwith an integralangle-bar along one of its sides and an elevatedoutwardly-extendingiiange, formed by an oifset along its opposite side, slots in saidbase-plate extending through said offset, a detachable angle-bar havingknees extending from its lower edge and adapted to extend through saidslots, underneath said flange'and outwardly therefrom, said angle-barsbeing adapted to confine between them a rail placed on the bed-plate,substantially as 'described 3. A'rail-j'oint lock comprising abed-plate, a ribbed angle-bar integral with said bed-plate extendingalong one of its sides, feet extending laterally from said bed-plate andadapted to be spiked to the ties, downwardly-extending projectionsonlsaid feet, a flange formed by an offset along a side of saidbed-plate, slots in said plate extending through said offset, anangle-bar having angle-knees adapted 'to be passed through said slotsand to be spiked to the tie and downwardly-extending teeth on theoutwardly-extending portions of said sides, a detachable angle-barhaving'v anglelknees adapted to be passed through the slots in saidplate and to project outwardly'fromv; 4 I 3o said plate, and aprojection on said-bed-plate IOO IIO

IZO

' ing flange formed by an offset extending along the opposite side ofsaid plate, slots in said plate extending through said oifset, ananglebar having' knees adapted to be passed through said slots, toproject beyond said flange, and to be spiked to the ties, said angle-barhaving a downwardly-extending ange extending between said offset and theedge or' the base of the rail placed on said bed-plate and conlinedbetween said angle-bars, substantially as described.

6. A rail-joint lock comprising two slotted bed-plates adapted toreceive the bases of two rails composing a railroad-track, angle-bars,between which the rails are to be conlined having knees adapted to bepassed through the slots in said plates anda strap, connecting thoseangle-bars which face each other and the center of the track,substantially as described. v

7. A rail-joint lock comprising two bedplates adapted to receive thebases of two rails composinga railroad-track and provided withontwardly-extending elevated slotted flanges, along their sides,angle-bars having knees adapted to be passed through the slots on theoutside of said plates, and a` strap adapted to connect said plates, itsextremities being formed into angle-bars, adapted to be passed throughthe slots on the inside of said plates, substantially as described.

8. A rail-joint lock comprising two connected slotted bed-plates adaptedto receive simultaneously the bases of the two rails composing arailroad-track, and angle-bars between which the rails are to beconlined, ha v ing knees adapted to be passed through the slots in saidplates and to be spiked to the surface on which the track rests,substantially as described.

9. A rail-joint lock comprising two bedplates adapted to receive thebases of two rails composing a railroad-track and provided withoutwardly-extending slotted, elevated flanges along their sides,angle-bars having knees adapted to be passed through the slots in saidianges and to extend beyond the same, and a plate connecting the flangeswhich face each other and the center of the track, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof l have afiixed my signature in presence ot' twowitnesses.

NElVTON (l. VOSLER.

Vitnesses:

(Jr. J. RoLLANDur, R. M. STUMr.

